Labour Ministry: High concentration of dust

High concentrations of dust are observed in the air today, according to measurements from Stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network operated by the Department of Labour Inspection.

The public, and particularly any vulnerable groups of population (children, older people, and the infirm) are urged to avoid circulating in open spaces until the observed episode has elapsed, as the small size of respirable particles in dust may have negative effects on human health.

Employers must take appropriate measures (organisational or technical) after assessing any risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces, and it is recommended that workers in such spaces use appropriate means of personal protection.

In detail, the latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 12:00 pm in the following areas are:

Nicosia: 76 μg/m3

Limassol: 96 μg/m3

Larnaca: 40 μg/m3

Paphos: 131 μg/m3

Paralimni: 43 μg/m3

Zygi: 43 μg/m3

Ayia Marina Xyliatou: 44 μg/m3

It is noted that ‘dust’ refers to respirable particulate matter of a diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) in the air. According to the relevant legislation, a limit value not to be exceeded is set for the daily average concentrations at 50 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre).

More information on the measured pollutant concentrations and real-time updates is available online at www.airquality.gov.cy, and also through the free mobile application ‘Air Quality Cyprus’.